Chapter 14- If Only

5 am

Greg walked through the hospital doors as Warrick was leaving, holding two small Teddy bears & a rose in each.

"Hey man, how are they?" Greg said stopping his colleague mid stride.

"Alyssa, they are saying a deep REM sleep. Nick's in there now he needs to get out a walk around but he won't leave her alone and Sara is fine, few cuts and bruises she'll be leaving this afternoon." Warrick said shaking his head.

"Oh I left Catherine with evidence, how is she?" Warrick asked knowing he should have stayed with her but he had called her right after Alyssa was moved to intensive care, to update her and the lab and she was doing ok on her own..

"She closed it, open and shut. Print spit out a suspect and he copped." Greg answered. Warrick nodded again in thought.

"Hey thanks Greggo, See yah," and with that Warrick walked out.

Greg continued to the first room Warrick had given him the number to over the phone.

Sara's.

Greg pushed the door open and found Sara reading a magazine clearly Brought by Grissom, and the boss himself was sitting in the chair next to Sara chatting lightly about whatever article it was.

"Hello Beautiful." Greg said prancing in and kissing Sara on the cheek. Sara responded with a light laugh.

"Hey Greg- Oh thank you! It's so sweet." She said accepting one of the bear from Greg.

Greg smiled. "Hey Griss." Greg gave a nod of his head and got one in return from his boss.

"Nick still with her?" He asked knowing the answer already.

Grissom and Sara both nodded. "They moved her down here again. Two doors over." Sara said bowing her head.

"I'll be back." He said and turned to leave.

Alyssa's Room

Nick sat hunched over, his head resting on the bed side near Alyssa's left hand. He saw the door open slightly but was to stiff to move. The figure walked around behind Nick and placed a hand on his should.

"Take a walk Stokes, I'll keep an eye out for her." Greg spoke.

Nick didn't have enough energy to argue, and he knew he needed to stretch his legs, desperately. Complying with his friends' request he stood up and mumbled rugged thanks and walked out.

Greg watched Nick leave and stood beside the lifeless figure, who of which, he saw, 24 hours before bouncing through the lab on her first case.

He shook his head. "Sara's not really that bad of a driver you know… most days." He joked to whatever would listen.

He placed the rose on a dear by tray table and the bear in the crook of her elbow and stood back to admire.

He saw something move.

Greg blinked and cleared his eyes.

Again he saw it.

He looked closer to Alyssa's face. Her eyes started flickering rapidly. He watched her hoping for more then just flickering.

Alyssa's eyes shot open.

Greg jumped a few feet and was sure his heart rate quickened.

The brunette began taking deep breathes as her eyes watered. Greg pulled the young CSI in hug. He reached over her on the wall, above the head board and pressed for a nurse. Alyssa's breathing began to slow down and the sobbing figure clung onto Greg's shirt for everything she had. Greg not knowing what to do, except wait for a nurse, comforted the significantly smaller body laying the bed and sat next to her.

"Hey you, there you are, we were all worried. No not that worried, Shhhh Alyssa its ok, don't cry I'll go get Grissom. OK ok ok no I won't get Grissom just shhh babe, shh… that's it."

Nick walked back towards the hospital room and saw a few nurses pick up the pace to Alyssa's room, and Nick copied. He took one last sit of his coffee, dumped it into the trash outside and pushed the door open. He was faced with Alyssa clinging to Greg.

His heart sank. He wanted to be there, let her know he wanted to stay there until she was ok.

It was Greg instead.

The nurses persuaded the brunette to let go of Greg so they could run more tests.

Nick walked to the edge of the bed and did nothing but watch. Alyssa's breathing finally steadied and she lay back down and took a few breathes. When she opened her eyes she looked confused. Greg joined Nick by his side and they looked at the nurse. She nodded and smiled.

"She's stable." She looked at the two men and her patient.

Alyssa blinked twice.

Nick walked over to where Greg was and smiled down at the brunette.

"How are you feelin'?" He asked her.

Alyssa looked at her hands. "Fine." She lied.

Nick looked at her sympathetically "I heard everything."

"Everything? You ease-dropped?" She asked slightly angry.

"I was coming into give you your stuff, you were talking and I didn't want to disturb you." He apologized. "I want you to know we're here for you… I'mhereforyou." He pushed out quickly.

Alyssa raised her eyebrow and sighed. "Nick. Thank you, I've gone this far without anybody, I'm sure a few decades more won't hurt." Nick was about tospeak but was interrupted."Besides you have other things to worry about, I'm the least of your worries, Nick."You get sick and tierd of me anyways.She looked at the Teddy she was half laying on now and raised her eyebrow at Greg who is turn gave her a goofy smile.

Nick gave him a look.

"I'm going to see Grissom and Sara. Want anything?" He asked.

"Jelly beans?" Alyssa asked softly and earned a look from the nurse.

"What I can't have candy now? Nuh uh," She said to the nurse who rolled her eyes and walked out. Greg laughed and left the two alone.

TBC...

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